Union mob shows its true colors

In the near future, chances are that the United Auto Workers (UAW) will be holding hands with your TAs on the picket lines and not in the classroom. But remember that when you can't take your final, or there isn't a review session, or your grades are never turned i, and scholarships are rejected, that your student leaders and apathy toward the issue has led to this.

Our campus has been taken over by a mob of disgruntled graduate students and union mafiosos who claim that the only reason they are striking is because the University will not recognize them as an exclusive bargaining unit for TAs. Of course those of us that can see beyond our noses know that this will just be the start of a horrible relationship between TAs and the University.

The first show of this was at the recent student senate meeting with President McCormick. A group that demands respect and dialogue about its people here on campus sure does not return the favor. McCormick could barely finish a line without people laughing or interrupting. How can you trust someone who will not listen to what you have to say or will just shout you down? You can't, and for this reason alone McCormick should never recognize the Graduate Student Employee Action Coalition (GSEAC)/UAW.

Another reason GSEAC/UAW can't be trusted is its frightening words at the last student senate forum. Several times the members shouted, "Militant unions always win." And these are the people who teach us? Perhaps they forget the militant Nazi Labor Worker Party rise in the early 1920s in Germany. The very thought that a militant union is a good thing is disturbing because throughout history we have seen how activists like Dr. King or even The Seattle Times workers have eventually gained decent compensation through peaceful and respectful dialogue. But through force, protest and anger, this union hopes to represent TAs on campus. Good luck gaining credibility.

Let's also not forget the fact that Attorney General Christine Gregoire, a democrat and friend of organized labor, said that the University would break the law by recognizing the union. Her opinion says that "the University presently does not have the legal authority to recognize an exclusive bargaining representative for purposes of collective bargaining with teaching assistants, readers, graders and tutors." The opinion goes on and quotes RCW 41.06.070(2)(b), which states that TAs are not classified employees under state law. It also quotes numerous Washington state Supreme Court cases to back up its conclusion.

The union response is that it is 'just an opinion,' despite the fact that GSEAC/UAW submitted its own arguments to persuade the attorney general's office to side with it. Gregoire is the chief law-enforcement officer in the state. To say her opinion is 'just an opinion' is completely ridiculous. Does the union realize that all Supreme Court cases are 'just opinions?' Should we abide by Roe vs. Wade or Texas vs. Johnson just because they are opinions? President McCormick should follow the rule of law of the state and not recognize the union until the state Legislature authorizes him to through legislation.

Finally, we are being completely misled in GSEAC's goals. It does not want to be recognized; it wants higher benefits and pay, no matter who makes up the cost. A letter from Provost Lee Huntsman to all the department chairs and deans make this quite clear. In it, he states that GSEAC is demanding a total of a 36-percent increase in TA compensation over the next three years. This means the University will incur over $10 million in costs each year. Additionally, GSEAC is also demanding an increase of $1.5 million in health benefits and another $1 million a year to hire people to solely work for the TA union. So our tuition dollars are going to fund a union bureaucrat on campus -- doesn't that make you just feel warm inside?

Now with the budget tight and no money left, where will this money come from? The answer, Trebek, is the students. Just look at other universities that have cut deals with labor unions. Statistics show that in 2001, 84 percent of colleges with TA unions were above the national average for public tuition levels. "What part of 80 percent don't they understand?" So just think not only are we getting a 6-percent increase next year from the Legislature but our UAW friends will probably shoot it to 10 percent. Talk about pricing people out of an education.

GSEAC/UAW has misled and lost respect on campus. Its mob-like mentality and lack of consideration for fellow students and University administrators is sad. If McCormick had any balls whatsoever he would do what Ronald Reagan did during the early '80s with the air-traffic controllers -- fire them if they don't show up to work. Department heads need to punish TAs that refuse to meet contractual obligations. Unfortunately, most of us will go into summer break with unions yelling in our face and tuition skyrocketing. Sorry to leave you on such a grim note. See you in the fall.